Signal.



R. ,L. OAIRNGROSS.

' smmL. APPLIOATIOR FILED SEPT. $1908.

Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

j 3 witnmw Aim JJ a

vautoz R. L. GAIRNCROSS.

SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED BEPTJL 1908.

93 1,382- Patented Aug. 17, 1909.

8 BEEBTHHBB'I' '2.

- pass an y ROBERT L. (,AIRNCROSS, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, .1909.

Application filed September 8, 1908. Serial No. 462,080.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, ltonnn'r L. OADRN- cnoss, a subject of the King of England, re-

siding at Beaumont, in the county of J efferson and State of Texas, United States of America, have invented a new and useful Signal, of which the following is a specifica- 'tion.

By way of explanation, I will state that in railroad practice, it is common for trainmasters to send out trains .in severalparts, technically known as sections, each section being drawn by one or more locomotives, and constituting, for all intents and purposes, a separate train. Thus, the first section of train number fiit '-four would be known as the first fift -four,' the second section as the second fi ty-four and so on.

Another traimnumber eighty-nine, for example, scheduled to leave at an hour in close proxinntv to the time of departure of train number fifty-four, might, in the same man her, be divided up into several sections. To

adhere to the'concrete example, although the several sections of train fifty-four might be of the sections of train eighty-nii'ie might overtake and four.

In orders issued to train crews, it is customary to direct thatthe train of the re cipicnt wait for, or pass certain train sections at sidings or elsewhere. It will be seen that if accidents are to be avoided, the identity of the train or section must be est-blishcd beyond doubt. The character of the rolling-stock may serve as a slight in-- dex; the time upon which the train is running is of less value; and the sequence of the sections in .rassing a given point proves nothing at all, for,as hereinbefore pointed out, the second eighty-nine may have passed the second fifty-four upon the road." i

In the foregoing, lected a simple case several sections running in the same direclion. Itw'ill be seen "that, when in addition I have purposely seto those above mentioned, there are other trains, each of several sections, the second trains running in a direction opposite to the first, the situation is even more complicated, and the danger of accident far renter. This inability of train. 'inehto distinguish what train {they have-diet or been led to frequent accidents, on it is the obor all of the sections of train ,fiftythat of two trains of assed by hasject of this invention to provide, in an inexpensive form, a simple device, by which, either in daylight or after night-fall, the character of a train may be determined to a certainty, without change or alternation be tween da light and night the simple matter of lighting or extinguishing the lamps; whether it be freight or passenger, regu or or extra, and the particular section which may be represented.

For years trainmen have been demanding a signal which will show the last or only section of a regular train, and, sofar as am advised as to the state of the art, no such signal has ever been dcvised or used by railroad companies, and a device adapted to that end forms the subject matter of this specification.

l'Vith these objects in view, together with others, which a perusal of this specification will reveal to those skilled in the art, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the up ended claims, it bein understood that various changes in the orm, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made within the scope of the a pended claims without departing from tfie spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to lndicate corresponding dparts =rawthroughout the several figures of the ings.

In the accompanying drawings ;Figure 1 shows, in front elevation, my invention attached to the front of a locomotive and disposed directly beneath the headlight; Fig. 2 is a top plan of my invention, the lid 20 being removed that the details of the interior of the device may be more readily made manifest; Fi 3 is a. vertical transverse section throug 1 the central chamber 57; Fig. 4 is an end elevation; Fig. 5 is a'front elevation of one of Fig. 6 is a front elevation of one of the stanciled plates Fig. 7 is a front elevation of one of the stencil ed plates 30, showing a numeral replacing the conventional, *si

ing in detai upon an enlnrgedl'cale, that the construction may more readi-ljr 'appear, the relation between the lid 20 shown in Fig. 6; Fig. '8 ion top plan, showend the housing 1, the lid 20 being withdrawn from the colored screens 36 signals, exception the chamber 7. Between the end the top of the housing; Fig. 9 is a front elevation, showin a different combination of signals from that delineated in Fi 1' Fig. 10 shows in front elevation, a morfified form of my invention; F i 11 shows in rear elevation, one .of the day signals 19' Fig. 12 shows in front elevation, a modified form of m invention; Fig. 13 is an end elevation, s owing one of the day signals 19 in place; Fig. 14 is a detail perspective intended to ,de ineate the lid 20 and the accessory parts mud to show the manner in which the lid is carried by the housing 1.

In 0 ing out my invention I provide a housin 1, which may be 0 any form. Preferably, however, as shown, it is rectangular, nd oblong in form. In the ends of the hm'ptg 1 are mounted lamp-boxes 2, provided th lenses 3 of the bulls-eyetype, disposed in the front and ends of the said lam -boxes 2. Within the lamp-boxes 2 are gui es 4, arranged to receive, removably, colored screens 5, whereby the rays proceeding from the lam s 6, located in the boxes 2, may be tinte Between the lamp-boxes 2 lies thecentral chamber 7 having an open front 8. Mounted in the ends of the chamher 7 and near to its front face,.are the end guides 9, adapted to receive sheets or plates 25 and 35 of the full length of the front of uides 9 are located intermediate guides 10, isposed transversely with respect to the front of the chamber 7 and arranged to divide the front of the chamber 7 into a plurality of similarspaces 29. The uides 9 and 10 may be of any form ada ted to receive slidably and to hold removab fiat sheets or plates of the character to be hereinafter described. The chamber 7 is provided in its interior with lights 11. These lights 11 and the lights in the lamp-boxes 2 may be of any form and the medium used may be electricity, asindicatedin. the accompanying drawings, or it may be oil, acetylene, or other means adapted to the end sou ht, the lighting of the device being left to t 1e science of illumination and formin no distinctive feature of the invention. f electricity be used, a dynamo of the ordinary train type, together with a battery of storage cells, will furnish sufficient equipment.

The rear of the housing 1 sets inward from the ends, as shown at 12; inthe recess .thus formed are mounted sockets 13, tubular in form, and extending substantially to the bottom of the housing 1. Other sockets 14 are disposed upon the front of the housing 1; opposite to', and in substantial alinement with, the partitionslfi, which separate the lamp-boxes 2 from the-chamber 7.

Day signals are provided, of which there are two sorts, difl'eringin size and shape,

5 but not in construction. These da signals comprise a flat body 16, from whic depend arms 17, adapted to enter the sockets 13 and 14. In one of these day signals 18, the arms 17 are so dis osed as to register with the sockets 14. n the other day signal, designated b the numeral 19, the arms 17 are so dispose that one ofthem may register with one of the sockets 13, and the other arm register with the adjacent socket 14 upon the front of the device, thus disposing the signal 19 in 'a diagonal line from one of the rear corners of the housing to the front face, as shown in Fig. 9.

The housing 1 is rovided with a lid 20, and when the signa 19 is in its Jlace, the body portion 16 of the signal will have its lower edge in contact with the top of the lid 20, holding the said lid firmly in lace upon the housing 1. housing 1, extending across its rear face, from end to end, are, pockets 21, in which may be kept screens 25, 35 and 36, stenciled plates 30, and like devices, intended to be used in connection with the guides 9 and 10 as will be described hereinafter. The lid 20 ma be of any form. It may be simply hinge to the housing 1 in the ordinary manner. In some instances, however, as shown in Fig. 1 it may be desired to place my invention close up beneath the headlight, and, 'm such case, the head-light .or some of its parts would probalil interfere with the opening of an ordinary inged lid. To obviate this difiiculty, I have devised a lid of peculiar construction, shown in detail 7 in Figs. v4, 8 and 14. This lid comprises a body portion 22, having down-turned edges 23, arranged to register with the channel 37, which is sunk into the end 40- of the housing 1, extendin inward into the said housing. A part 0 the edge of the body portion 22 is allowed to remain outstanding at the rear of said portion 22, as shown at 38, and this outstanding portion carries a catch 24, terminating in a boss 26. The front corners of the housin I carry tubular sockets 27, slotted longitudinally from the top downward, as shown at 28. The tops of the sockets 27 are cut away at the rear, leaving the front portion upstanding to form a shoulder 39. When the lid 20 is pulled forward the downturned edge 23 will In the interior 0' the traverse the channel 37, the boss 26 moving along the end 40 of the housing 1, and without the said housing. When the boss 26.

strikes the shoulder 39, the catches 24 will rf'emain, leavingthe hands of the operator re'e.

,The invention includes tin-equipment intended to be stored in the pockets 21 when 3 notin use in the guides 9 and 10," and this equipment I will now describe in its preferred form. I provide a number of opaque plates which may be introduced into the guides 10, to close entirely the open front of the housin 1, and to cutofl the light from the tialy .of the same ape as the screens 36; or, if desired, these opa ue plates may be used in butnon'e or two the. spaces 29, to serve as opaque blocks between symbols moui'ited in the remaining. s aces 29. I fur- 1 plates and 35, arranged to-be lam s 11, t ese 0 a no lates bean substan-,

P P g P g guides-1O against-neck ental, internal or ex ternal injury; The; full-length plate 25- mountedin the joilter end u'ides 9 is of plain, clear glass." 'Thefull ength plate mounted int e inner or rear guldes 9, however, is provided with a, frosted, or ground surfac'e,the object being to .fur'nish'a white back-ground by day for the 'stenciled plates 30, and *togditfuse the li 'ht behind them,

vllilen 'the lamps'll are lig ted after night- Stencile'd plates ZSUY'may be mounted in the guides 10, and, ,if desired, full-length, colored, transparent plates, similar in shape to' mounted in the end guides 9, maybecarried, whereby to ive a colo1ed back1n for the entire open iront 8. ,ll-he'stencile plates 30 are fashio'nedfro'm dpaque material and may show any desired characters. I- refer thatthey should include four "sets of gures from 0 to 9, and to these may be added conventional sums, such as X and the'lilte. The stenciled plates 30 are Irovidcd with a li 31, u standin from t e upper edge 0 the actor carried by the body of theiplate. is

du'plicated-Iupon the lip 31 in diminished size, as shown in Fig. 7, and-designatedby These smaller numerals the unmet-11132;

may be cut entirely throu 'h the lip 3l. or merely impressedthercin. The object of the lip 31 isto furnish a'means whereby the stenciled plates 30 may be grasped for removal from the uides 10 or from the 00kets 21. The small numerals 32 .upon he 31 serve a double purpose. First, they furnish ame'ans whereby the plates 30 maybe p ate as sibwn in Fig. 6. TheTlarge char-.

identified when inclosed jp the pockets 21;

and second, they serve" to rohghe'ni'the stirmic? ay. signalsslfi and 19 may-be varitluslyhcoloredriiil refer; however that the si a1 19 be'oolore .whi'teupon its back 41:

an. reteen -upon "itsface'42 and that the "18 and '19, an endless number darkness, the information ml 18 in the daylight.

si nal 18 carry) upon both sides, a distinctive co or, p'referay purple.

It will be seen that with the above doscribed'outfit, embracing the lamps 6, the color of which may be chan ed b means of the screens 5, the stenciled p ates O, and the coloredsereens 36' which maybe mounted interchangeably with the stenciled plates-30 in the guides 10, and the day ight si als 0 com mationsmay be made, whereby a broad scope of information relative to the character of the train may be conveyed, a code'having been first fixed upon.' 'lhe possible number of combinations may be still further increased bythe fact that there are two sets of the guides 10, one disposed behind the other, so that when the front set is wholly or partially filled with stenciled plates 30, screens 36, of various colors, may be mounted in the rear set to tint one or more of the numbers indicated by the stenciled lates.

It should be understood at the 5 aces 29 are ofthe same size, and that the p ates 30 and the screens 36 may be. moved intere changeably from spaceto space.

I will now describecertainof the uses to.

which my invention may be put. Referring to Fig.1, which shows 'my invention in the preferred osition upon the front of a looomotive and beneath the headlight, it, will be seen that the daylight signal 18 is in position; This si a1 18 carrying a distinctive dolor, as purp e, by lits shape, position and color, indicates the last or only section of a train, and the stenciled plates show that the particular train is train eighty-nine. When night has fallen and the signal 18 is no longer visible, the lamps 11 are 1i hted, and the stenciled plates 30 still show t e number of the train. Purple, the color carried by the signal 18, isthe tint employed to denote the last or only section of a train, and in the spaces 33 are mounted transparent screens bearing this color, thus conveying, even in.

given by the sig- Referring now to Fig. 9, which illustrateis another combination, the daylight signhls are shown in place and with their green si 42 forward. 'Theshape, position ,antlco or train ,=follow'ing the one bearing-the signa of these signals indicate that there is anotli g and the numerals displayediby the stenci e and after night-fall, this s ace 34 eonveys the infornnition afi'ordedjn m aylight by the signal1 9, to wit: that there is a train following. the numerals upouthe stenciled plates 30 in Fig. 9, illuminated by the lamps 11,

tram is'an f extra so called.

still showing the number of the train bearin them, and the particular section thereof.

n Fig. 12 I have shown a modified formthe white rear, 4-1, exposed, and the stencil plates 30 set to denote extra train one hundred and seventy-three, the white rear of the si als 19 denoting such extra train.

In *ig. 10 I have siown a modified form of my invention, wherein the lamp-boxes 2 have been disposed beneath the central chamber 7, the lamps 11 being introduced into the chamber '7 from the ends, and the lamps 6 introduced into theJamp-boaes '2 from beneath.

l have further em loyed Fig. 10 to illusirate another metho of displaying si nals. 'lhe'day signals 19 are employed an display a white surface 41, in lcating that the The stenciled sign X: will indicate the character ofthe train after nightfall, and the stenciled numerals 173 show the number of the train.

It is the present practice to designate extm trains by thenumber of the engine which necessitates the addition, in train orders, of words indicating the direction in which the extra is bound. By the use of my invention it would be possible to designate extras by certain numbers, the odd numbers to move in the same direction as the odd numbered regular train and vice versa. Under this arrangement, the engine number would be of no more importance than the caboose number, and 'the term designating direction of train movement, east, west, or the like, necessary when the extra is designated by eng\'nc numbers, could be dispensed with.

r t present, there is no set place upon the locomotive where signals are to be carried. They are sometimes carried upon the ilot beam; in other cases upon the sides 0 the boiler front; in other cases they are disposed upon the sides of the boiler, to the rear of the front and fastened to the running board handle. upon or near the headlight, and have a source of illumination in common with the headlight. In addition to the above pointed out uncertainty -as to the location of signals, there is no uniformity as to the character of the signals displayed. Many of them being cumberous in form and untrustworthy in aeration. In -my invention, the signal is (l a aptcd to be displayed in a definite )laee,

namely, beneath cadlight, which is the mostmnspieuous point upon the entire train.

l have pointed out that most of the si n'al devices used upon locomotives are cum er- ,vided with a horizontally disposed rail,

intermediate guides; g ass Likewise, they are often mounted ous in form; in my invention, on the contrary, the devices intend e' -to convey the desired information areited in a com act and rigid form, adapted to be mount in small compass in the osition where the can be most readily and I have shown and. described my .inveution as provided with four spaces 29, wherein numerals may be exposed, but it ls obvious that the number of these spaces 29 maybe increased by len thening the chamb er 7, thus providing for tie high numerals carried by the locomotives on certain'roads.

I have hereinbefore stated that the stenciledlates 30 may be backed by colored lass, ut. the-preferred backing is the full ength frosted or before described.

The front of the locomotive may be proground glass 35, hereinnot shown )in which the hooks of a scaling adder may be engaged, furnishingv a means 'of in signals, cleanin or repairs.

Ihroughout the a ove description, definite colors' have been designated in an effort to cause my invention to conform to the standv ard code now in use, but it is obvious that the selection ofcolors made, may be departed from, wholly or in part.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect, by Letters Patent is r j 1,. In a device of lgieclass described, an internally illuminate a housing having an open front; a double set of end gruides transverscly mounted in the open out of the housing; intermediate guides transversely mounted in the housing disposed between the planes of the end gm es and arranged to divide the front of the housin into a pinrality of like spaces; stencils and'opaque plates and transparent colored screens removably and interchan bly. mounted in the plates removably mounted in the end guides. 2. In a device of the class described, an internally ill'uminated housing having an open front; a double set of end uides transversely mounted in the open out of the housing intermediate guides transversely mean in the housing,*'disposed between the lanes of the end aides and arranged to (ivide the front of the housin into a plurality of like spaces; stenciled an opaque plates and transparent colored screens re; movably andinterchangeably mounted in the intermediate uides; a transparent lass plate removab end guides to the, front of the intermediate aides; a glass plate havin a frosted surace, mounted in'a pair of t the rear of the intermediate guides.

In a device of the class described, a

housing having a plurality of pocketstinter ascent to my device, for the purposeof altery mounted-in one pair 0 the e end guides to changeable plates arranged for slidahle insertion into the pockets, each of said plates comprising a body portion bearing a stenciled character and being provided with a lip upstanding from the body portion above the upper edge of the pocket, the said lip bearin a reduced facsimile of the character carrie by the bod of the plate, the said reduced facsimile being arranged to alter the character of the lip toprovide a finger hold. i

. a. In a device of the class described, .an internally illuminated chamber having an open front; opaque and stcnciled plates and colored screens; means for mounting the said plates and screens slid-ably and interchangeably in the open front of the housing; lamp boxes mounted at the ends of the chamber; lamps mounted within the lamp boxes; guides carried by the interior .of the lamp boxes; colored screens arranged to register in the guides in the lamp boxes.

5. In a device of the class described, a housing comprising an internally illuminated chamber having an open front, arranged to receive slidably and interchangeably opaque and transparent slides; and internally illuminated lamp boxes, mounted upon the ends of the chamber, the said lamp boxes having means for varying the color of the light: displayed; a day signal rcmovably mounted upon the top ol the housing at its front; othccday signals rcuiovably mounted upon the top of the housing, diagonally crossing the ends of the housing and arrang d tor intcrcliang able use with th day signal carried by the top of the housing at its front. 7

(S. In a device of the class dcscribcd, a housing comprising an internally ilhuninated chamber having an. open front arranged to receive slid-ably and interchangeably, opaque and transparent slides; and internally illuminated lamp boxes mounted upon the terminals of the chamber, the said lamp boxes having means for varying the color 05 the light displayed; sockets carried by the rear corners of the housing, and other sockets carried by the trout of the housing; a day signal having its arms arranged to register with the sockets in the front of the housing; other day signals, each having an arm arranged to register With the corner sockets, and an arm arranged to register with the adjacent socket on the front of the housing.

7. In a device of the class described, a housing; a lid mounted upon the housing; sockets carried by the rear corners of the housing; and other sockets carried by the front of the housing; a day signal compris-. ing a body portion and arms depending from the body portion, one of said arms being arranged to register with a corner socket, and one of said arms arranged to register with one of the front sockets, whereby the body portion may be disposed dia onally across the lid, and in contact therewith.

8. In a device of the class described, a housing; a lid mounted upon the housing; day signals slidably carried by the housing, disposed diagonally across the lid and arranged to rest upon said lid.

9. In a device of the class described, a housing; a channel sunk into the end of the housing and disposed parallel to its upper edge; a lid having a portion of its end downturncd and brought into sliding relation with the channel, the remaining portion of the end of the lid outstanding in the plane of the lid; a catch mounted upon the out-. staiuling portion of the lid and extending to the rear of the lid; a boss carried by the rear terminal of the catch; carried by the front corner of the housing a tubular socket having a longitudinally disposed slot; a shoulder upstanding from the front ot the tubular socket at its top, the said shoulder arranged to impinge the boss, the tubular socket arranged to receive the boss, and the longitudinally disposed slot arranged to receive the catch, when the lid is drawn forward.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signalure in the presence of two witnesses.

RQBERT L. CAIRNCROSS.

Witnesses JAs. M. VVALKER, Mason B. LAWTON. 

